Introducing George – the lesser known tunnel of The Great Escape

The entrance to George has been discovered in the old theatre of the Nazi prison camp, Stalag Luft III in Zagan, which was in German-occupied Poland.

George was built by men bitter that they did not escape through Harry on the night of March 24, 1944. Only later did they learn that the Gestapo murdered 50 of the 76 escapees, made famous by the film starring Steve McQueen, Sir Richard Attenborough and Charles Bronson.

Sqn Ldr Ivor Harris, now 90, who operated the air pump at the entrance of the George tunnel, returned to the theatre last year and identified the hollow in the ground where the route started. It is from this point that the team will begin excavating in the spring.

George was never used because, when the Red Army moved nearer, German guards put the prisoners on a forced march back into Germany. About 200 men died during the march....